Toomevara stage dramatic comeback
Mount Sion (Waterford) 1-13 Toomevara (Tipperary) 1-14
2004 All-Star nominee Ken McGrath - having hit a crucial 1-6 for Mount Sion in the previous hour - missed a straight-on injury time free as Tipperary's Toomevara won their first AIB Munster Club hurling title in 11 years at Semple Stadium.
7,749 spectators watched as Toomevara, having been as much as seven points down early in the second half, staged a dramatic comeback as substitute John O'Brien hit the winning point in the second minute of injury time.
McGrath, named man-of-the-match, had a chance to level seconds later but his midfield drive just went past the Tipperary side's left post.
McGrath, despite some early misses, was key to the Waterford champions' 1-9 to 0-8 half time lead, hitting five points (all from frees) and goaling a 21-metre free in injury time, after Daniel Kelly was hauled down by a combination of Benny Dunne and Sean Ryan.
The sides were level five times in the opening 30 minutes as McGrath's free-taking was matched by four Ken Dunne frees and Toomevara also had efforts from Willie Ryan, Francis Devaney, captain Paddy O'Brien and Tipperary's 2001 All-Ireland winning skipper Tommy Dunne.
2002 All-Star Eoin Kelly also notched three points from play for Mount Sion, including the opening score after just 14 seconds.
An Eoin Brislane point seconds into the second half looked to light the touch paper for a Toome comeback but points from Brian Greene, Sean Ryan, McGrath - his only one from play on 38 minutes - and Daniel Kelly saw Sion into a 1-13 to 0-9 lead.
O'Brien's classical sideline cut on 40 minutes nudged the Tipp kingpins back into contention and they managed to keep McGrath and co scoreless for the next 20 minutes.
Sion goalkeeper Ian O'Regan went full length to stop a Willie Ryan goal attempt - but following points from O'Brien, Devaney and Tommy Dunne - a 52nd minute free - O'Regan gifted Willie Ryan a goal with just three minutes remaining.
0-13 to 1-13 down, O'Brien's sideline cut from the right touchline was plucked out of the air by O'Regan but with Ryan lurking, the Sion net minder was cheekily hooked and the sliotar found its way into the Waterford net.
O'Brien and Devaney screwed late chances to win it wide but O'Brien showed his composure to point from 50 metres with a replay on the cards.
Toomevara's second Munster crown sets up an All-Ireland semi-final against Galway champions Athenry.
